Dispensing package improvement for a roll of continuous sheeting material



Aug. 29, 1967 R. v. BURT 3,338,399

DISPENSING PACKAGE IMPROVEMENT FOR A ROLL OF CONTINUOUS SHEETING MATERIAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. i, 1965 4 i I 1 I INVENTOR. Roberi V. l Buri' ,4 v BY {M /M.

ATTORNEY Aug. 29. 1967 DISPENSING E CONTINUOUS SHEETING MATERIAL eeeeeeeeeeee t2 7 Robert V. Fig. 6 JTW ATTORNEY United States Patent Office 3,338,399 Patented Aug. 29, 1967 Filed Sept. 1, 1965, Ser. No. 484,329 6 Claims. (Cl. 206--58) This invention relates to a package for a roll of continuous sheeting material. More particularly, the invention relates to a package of this class in which a roll of continuous sheeting material is suitably supported so that it is plainly visible before and during use. The invention also provides an improved form of dispensing package for a continuous sheeting product in roll form.

Dispensing packages of this general type are commonly found in which the roll of continuous sheeting material is completely enclosed. This, of course, makes it entirely impossible for a potential purchaser to see and inspect the product. It also has the detrimental effect of making it difiicult, if not impossible, to visually determine the quantity of product remaining on the roll when in use.

A frame type dispensing package is described and claimed in the patent of Robert V. Burt et al., entitled, Combination Display and Dispensing Package for a Roll of Continuous Sheeting Material, which issued on July 26, 1966 as US. Patent 3,262,620. Said Burt et al. patent is commonly owned by the assignee of the present invention. The package of the foregoing application has solved the problem of permitting visual inspection of the product in the package. However, it was found that the manner of mounting the roll of sheeting material in the package of the Burt et al. application would not permit packaging a roll wound on a core in which the ends of the core are aligned with the rolled edges of the sheeting material.

It is a principal object of this invention to eliminate this deficiency by providing an improved package with roll mounting means such that the package is rigidly constructed and yet displays the product. The package uses a relatively small amount of paperboard or like material thereby achieving a very economical construction.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved package structure which is particularly suited for supporting continuous sheeting material in roll form, the structure of the package being such that it can be formed on high speed packaging machinery thus making the package commercially feasible.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a package of this kind wherein large areas of the product are visible to a potential consumer thus allowing the distinctive and attractive appearance of the product to be inspected at the point of purchase.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a package of the character described which is convenient in use and which readily allows removal and cutting away of a desired length of the continuous sheeting material from the rollf Another object of the invention is the provision of a package of the character described which is constructed and designed to support a roll of continuous sheeting material wound on a core with provision to support the core ends securely in the package to allow free rotation of the core without dislodgment from the package during use.

The nature and substance of the invention can be briefly summarized as comprising a package for a wound supply roll of continuous sheeting material, said package being made from a blank of paperboard or like material which is cut, scored and folded into a frame blank having tubular supports on either side of its four wall-forming panels. Core support elements are provided at opposite ends of the package. The core support elements are configured to engage the ends of the core on which the continuous sheeting material is wound. The core support elements support the roll of sheeting material and permit free rotation thereof as the sheeting material is withdrawn therefrom. The frame blank is formed and folded around the roll of continuous sheeting material by placing the ends of the core at both ends of the roll into supporting engagement with the core support elements mounted at the end panels of the frame and thereafter joining the ends of the frame blank. In a preferred form, the package is completed by overwrapping the frame with a transparent plastic film, preferably one having heatshrinkable properties. The overwrapped film is heated and shrunk to add substantially to the rigidity of the completed package. The roll of product within the package has a relatively large portion of its surface exposed through the two open sides of the frame so that it may be readily examined by a potential consumer.

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as forming the present invention, it is believed the invention will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the frame blank of this invention in flat form.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the frame blank of this invention after the tubular supports have been formed with the core support elements in place.

FIGURE 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 showing one core support element provided to support one end of the core containing the roll of continuous sheeting material.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the frame blank in partially erected form with the several panels in position to receive the roll of continuous sheeting material.

FIGURE 5 is a cross section taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 7 showing the roll of continuous sheeting material in the package with the outer wrapper removed for convenience of illustration.

FIGURE 6 is a cross section taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5 showing the manner in which one end of the roll is supported by the core support element.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the finished package containing a wound supply roll of continuous sheeting material wherein the frame has been overw'ra-pped with a heat-shrinkable plastic film which has been heated and shrunk in place.

Reference will now be made to the drawings in describing the invention and the manner of making and using same. A frame blank 10 generally configured in the form of an elongated strip is illustrated in flat condition in FIGURE 1. The frame blank 10 is formed by cutting and scoring a suitable packaging material such as cardboard, paperboard, cartonboard, plastic, thin metal or the like. The frame blank 10 is divided successively into a flap 11, an end panel 12, a side panel 13, an end panel 14, and a side panel 15 by means of two spaced horizontal parallel score lines 16 and 17 and vertical parallel transverse score lines 18, 19, 20 and 21. The score lines 16 and 17 run longitudinally from one end of the elongated strip forming the frame blank 10 to the other end thereof. Extending portions 22, 23, 24 and 25 project laterally outwardly from the longitudinal score line 16. Similarly, extending portions 26, 27, 28 and 29 extend laterally outwardly from the longitudinal score line 17.

Each of the extending portions 22, 23, 24 and 25 are divided by means of the parallel horizontal score lines 30 and 31 into an inner area 32, an intermediate area 33 and an outer area 34. Similarly, the extending portions 26, 27, 28 and 29 are divided by means of the sectional shapes, e.g., quadrilateral,

parallel horizontal score lines 35 and 36 into an inner area 37, an intermediate area 38 and an outer area 39.

Angular relief cut-outs 40, 41 and 42 are provided between the extending portions 22, 23, 24 and 25. Similarly, angular relief cut-outs 43, 44 and 45 are provided between the extending portions 26, 27, 28 and 29. It will be noted that the angular relief cut-outs are formed by making a straight cut collinear with each of the transverse score lines 19, 20 and 21 while the adjoining cut is formed by cutting at an angle from the horizontal longitudinal score line 16 or 17 to a point intersecting the score line 30 or 35 and then cutting straight out parallel to the adjoining straight cut.

The fiat frame blank of FIGURE 1 is folded and formed into the structure shown in FIGURE 2 as the next step in the construction of the package. This is accomplished by folding the extending portions 22, 23, 24 and 25 on the score lines 16, 30 and 31 so that the outer area 34 on each of the extending portions lies in contiguous relationship with its respective panel 12, 13, 14 or 15. The extending portions 26, 27, 28 and 29 are similarly folded so that the outer area 39 on each of the extending portions is also contiguous to its respective panel 12, 13, 14 or 15. When so folded, the frame blank has a cross section as shown in FIGURE 3. The folded and formed frame blank is held in this relationship by the application of adhesive to the areas 46 and 47 (FIG- URE 3) under the outer area portions 34 and 39 along the entire length of the blank.

It will be noted that in folding the frame in the previously described manner, a tubular support 48 is formed along one edge of each of the side and end panels and a second tubular support 49 is similarly formed along the other edge of each of the side and end panels. These tubular supports are spaced apart and are relatively rigid by virtue of their geometric structure and because of the inherent rigidity of the material from which they are made.

Preferably, the tubular supports 48 and 49 are triangular in cross section as shown in FIGURE 3. This gives the frame and the package greater stability and rigidity. However, the frame blank can be cut, scored and folded so that the tubular supports 48 and 49 have other cross arcuate, etc., to achieve similar results. In the preferred construction of the illustrated embodiment, the tubular supports 48 and 49 are substantially in the shape of a right triangle in cross section with the hypotenuse formed by the inner area portions 32 and 37.

Two core support elements are provided. These are best illustrated in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4. In a preferred form, each core support element 50 is substantially rectangular in shape with its end edges 51 and 52 spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the length of end panels 12 and 14. The remaining sides of each core support element 50 is defined by the lateral edges 53 and 54. The spacing between the lateral edges 53 and 54 is preferably about equal to the distance between the parallel score lines 16 and 17. This permits the core support elements 50 to be retained by frictional engagement with the side walls 33 and 38 of the tubular supports 49 and 48, respectively (FIGURE 3), and without the use of adhesives, although adhesives may be used if desired.

The core support elements 50 are preferably made of an inexpensive, thin and flexible thermoplastic material which is capable of being vacuum formed, e.g., a polyethylene sheet which is about 10 mils in thickness. In vacuum forming the core support elements 50, an inwardly extending portion is formed in the shape of a core support portion 55 and an enlarged spacer portion 56 connected by a planar wall 57 and having an end wall 58. Preferably, the core support portion 55 and the enlarged spacer portion 56 are in the shape of concentric cylinders. As shown in FIGURE 6, the core support portion 55 is sized to slip into the hollow 59 of the core 60 which supports the supply roll 61 to allow tfree rotation of the supply roll 61 on the core support elements 50.

In order to allow the supply roll 61 to be unwound without interference by the tubular supports 48 and 49 at the end panels 12 and 14, the planar wall 57 of the core support element 50 is preferably parallel to the end panel 14 (FIGURE 3) so that its surface 62 is at least equal in height but referably higher (when viewed in FIGURE 3) than an imaginary plane common to the peaks of the tubular support elements 48 and 49. In other words, the dimension B in FIGURE 3 must be equal to or greater than the dimension A.

The core support elements 50 are assembled in the frame blank as shown in FIGURE 2. The folded, formed and assembled frame blank of FIGURE 2 is then in condition for further folding to receive a roll of continuous sheeting material. This can be initiated by folding the structure into a configuration similar to that shown in FIGURE 4. Before the end flap 11 is tucked in place, however, the sup-ply roll 61 of continuous sheeting material on the core 60 is mounted within the frame. The core 60 at one end of the supply roll 61 is engaged over the core support ortion 55 of one core support element 50 at the end panel 14 as shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. Similanly, the other end of the core 60 is engaged by the core support portion 55 of the other core support elerment 50 at the end 'panel 12. Then the flap 11 is tucked in place to complete the frame around the supply roll 61.

After placing the supply roll 61 in the frame so that the core is supported by the cylindrical portions 55 of the core support elements 50, the flap 11 is tucked into closed position as illustrated by the broken line in FIGURE 7. The flap 11 is tucked between the tubular supports 48 and 49 and the inner surface of the side panel 15. It will be noted in FIGURE 1 that the outer areas 34 and 39 on the extending portions 25 and 29, respectively, are cut away at 63 and 64, respectively, Thus, the right end of the tubular supports 48 and 49 in the frame blank of FIG- URE 2 has a clearance space under the tubular supports 48 and 49 to allow insertion of the flap 11 when tucked into place as illustrated in FIGURE 7. The flap 11 is secured against the surface of the side panel 15 by means of an appropriate adhesive. As an alternate construction the fia 11 can be placed against the outside of the panel 15 and secured by means of an adhesive. It will also be apparent that the flap 11 can extend from either end of the frame blank of FIGURE 1 without detracting from the advantages of the frame structure.

FIGURE 7 illustrates the frame structure overwrapped with a transparent plastic film material. The film material is preferably of the heat-shrinkable type such as, for example, bi-axially oriented polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, or the like. It is also possible, of course, to use a non-shrinkable overwrap film such as cellophane, polypropylene, polystyrene, or the like. The overwrap material is cut to size and then Wrapped around the frame. It is sealed longitudinally along one side panel whereupon the tucks 65 and 66 are made. The end [folds 67 and 68 are then formed and sealed against the package. The other end of the package (not shown) has the ends of the wrapper similarly formed and sealed. When a preferred heat-shrinkable film is used, the finished package is subjected to sufficient heat to cause the overwrap film to shrink snugly around the frame thereby greatly increasing the rigidity of the frame structure. The use of a transparent overwrap film allows inspection of the supply roll 61 of continuous sheet material from the two sides of the open frame.

When a portion of the continuous sheeting material is to be severed from the roll 61, the outer wrapper is first removed. Then, a suitable length of sheeting material is withdrawn from the supply roll 61, whereupon the user merely severs the withdrawn piece from the roll of continuous sheeting material. The remaining material on the supply roll may be retained and stored in the package until the need for additional sheeting material arises.

The package heretofore described is useful for supporting and dispensing any of several materials which are particularly adapted for commercial sale in roll form. For example, it can be used in the dispensing of continuous sheet material such as paper products including hand towels, detergent impregnated paper, wrapping paper, waxed paper and the like. It can also be used (for dispensing plastic film products or metallic foil products. In one application, the invention was successfully used for displaying and dispensing a roll of paper towel material which was penforated at predetermined spaced intervals in order to permit severance of suitable lengths.

In general, however, the invention is useful for dispensing any type of continuous sheet material in roll from as the foregoing specific examples are merely illustrative of a number of potential uses. Cutting edges may be placed on a tubular support if desired.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications "can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A combination display and dispensing package for a supply roll of continuous sheeting material, said package comprising -a frame, said frame being formed from a frame blank generally configured in the form of an elongated strip of paperboard material, said frame blank having two spaced parallel score lines running longitudinally from one end of said elongated strip to the other end thereof, a plurality of transverse scores at intervals along the said frame blank, said transverse scores being substantially perpendicular to said parallel longitudinal scores thereby dividing the central portion of the frame blank into four panels including two side panels and two end panels, said side and end panels being alternately spaced along said frame blank, a flap articulated to and extending beyond the panel at one end of said frame blank, an extending portion projecting laterally outwardly from each of the said panels, each of said extending portions being at least partially separated by angular relief cutouts located outwardly of each of said transverse scores, each of said extending portions being folded into a tubular support, said tubular supports being adhered to their adjoining panels so that each of said side and end panels has a pair of spaced, substantially rigid tubular supports in parallel relationship alongside the longitudinal scores forming the upper and lower extremities of said side and end panels, said side and end panels being folded into a substantially rectangular frame by folding said frame blank on said transverse scores so that the said tubular supports face inwardly, said flap at one end of said frame blank being secured to the panel at the other end of said frame blank to form a frame structure, a core support element at each end panel, each of said core support elements being substantially rectangular and having oppositely disposed pairs of end and lateral edges, said end edges being spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the width of the end panels, said lateral edges being spaced at a distance about equal to the spacing between the longitudinal parallel scores of said frame blank, the core support elements being retained in contiguous relationship with the inner surface of each of said end panels by frictional engagement of the lateral edges thereof with the tubular support elements formed at the upper and lower extremities of said end panels, each core support element having an inwardly extending portion including a core support portion at its inner extremity and an enlarged spacer portion intermediate the core support portion and the end panel of said frame, said core support portion and said enlarged spacer portion being joined by a planar wall formed substantially parallel to the end panels of said frame blank, a supply roll of continuous sheeting material wound on a core and supported for free rotation by the core support portions of said core support elements such that endwise movement of the supply roll is prevented by said planar walls of said core support portions, the surface of said planar walls being spaced from the outer surface of the end panels at a distance represented by dimension B in FIGURE 3 which is at least equal to the distance from the outer surface of the end panel to the peak of the tubular support elements as represented by the dimension A in FIGURE 3 to permit unwinding of the sheeting material from the supply roll without interference from the tubular support elements.

2. A dispensing package as claimed in claim 1 wherein said frame structure is overwrapped with -a flexible and heat-shrinkable plastic film, said film being heated and shrunk on said frame structure to impart greater rigidity to said frame structure.

3. A dispensing package as claimed in claim 1 wherein said extending portions are divided by two score lines substantially parallel to said score lines running longitudinally from one end of said elongated strip to the other end thereof, said extending portions being folded on said two score lines to form tubular supports which are triangular in cross section.

4. A dispensing package as claimed in claim 3 wherein said triangular tubular supports are in the shape of right triangles in cross section with the hypotenuse of said right triangles being formed by the inner area portions of said extending portions which adjoin the side and end panels.

5. A dispensing package as claimed in claim 3 wherein said flap is tucked inside the frame structure between the inner surface of a wall panel and the tubular support elements of the same wall panel.

6. A dispensing package as claimed in claim 5 wherein said frame structure is overwrapped with a flexible and heat-shrinkable plastic film, said film being heated and shrunk on said frame structure to impart greater rigidity to said frame structure.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,159,274 12/1964 Burt 20645.33 3,228,519 1/1966 Dong et 'al. 20658 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner. WILLIAM T. DIXSON, JR., Examiner, 

1. A COMBINATION DISPLAY AND DISPENSING PACKAGE FOR A SUPPLY ROLL OF CONTINUOUS SHEETING MATERIAL, SAID PACKAGE COMPRISING A FRAME, SAID FRAME BEING FORMED FROM A FRAME BLANK GENERALLY CONFIGURED INN THE FORM OF AN ELONGATED STRIP OF PAPERBOARD MATERIAL, SAID FRAME BLANK HAVING TWO SPACED PARALLEL SCORE LINES RUNNING LONGITUDINALLY FROM ONE END OF SAID ELONGATED STRIP TO THE OTHER END THEREOF, A PLURALITY OF TRANSVERSE SCORES AT INTERVALS ALONG THE SAID FRAME BLANK, SAID TRANSVERSE SCORES BEING SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID PARALLEL LONGITUDINAL SCORES THEREBY DIVIDING THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE FRAME BLANK INTO FOUR PANELS INCLUDING TWO SIDE PANELS AND TWO END PANELS, SAID SIDE AND END PANELS BEING ALTERNATELY SPACED ALONG SAID RRAME BLANK, A FLAP ARTICULATED TO AND EXTENDING BEYOND THE PANEL AT ONE END OF SAID FRAME BLANK, AN EXTENDING PORTION PROJECING LATERALLY OUTWARDLY FROM EACH OF THE SAID PANELS, EACH OF SAID EXTENDING PORTIONS BEING AT LEAST PARTIALLY SEPARATED BY ANGULAR RELIEF CUTOUTS LOCATED OUTWARDLY OF EACH OF SAID TRANSVERSE SCORES, EACH OF SAID EXTENDING PORTIONS BEING FOLDED INTO A TUBULAR SUPPORT, SAID TUBULAR SUPPORTS BEING ADHERED TO THEIR ADJOINING PANELS SO THAT EACH OF SAID SIDE AND END PANELS HAS A PAIR OF SPACED, SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID TUBULAR SUPPORTS IN PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP ALONGSIDE THE LONGITUDINAL SCORES FORMING THE UPPER AND LOWER EXTREMITIES OF SAID SIDE AND END PANELS, SAID SIDE AND END PANELS BEING FOLDED INTO A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR FRAME BY FOLDING SAID FRAME BLANK ON SAID TRANSVERSE SCORES SO THAT THE SAID TUBULAR SUPPORTS FACE INWARDLY, SAID FLAP AT ONE END OF SAID FRAME BLANK BEING SECURED TO THE PANEL AT THE OTHER END OF SAID FRAME BLANK TO FORM A FRAME STRUCTURE, A CORE SUPPORT ELEMENT AT EACH END PANEL, EACH OF SAID CORE SUPPORT ELEMENTS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR AND HAVING OPPOSITELY DISPOSED PAIRS OF END AND LATERAL EDGES, SAID END EDGES BEING SPACED APART A DISTANCE SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE WIDTH OF THE END PANELS, SAID LATERAL EDGES BEING SPACED AT A DISTANCE ABOUT EQUAL TO THE SPACING BETWEEN THE LONGITUDINAL PARALLEL SCORES OF SAID FRAME BLANK, THE CORE SUPPORT ELEMENTS BEING RETAINED IN CONTIGUOUS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE INNER SURFACE OF EACH OF SAID END PANELS BY FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT OF THE LATERAL EDGES THEREOF WITH THE TUBULAR SUPPORT ELEMENTS FORMED AT THE UPPER AND LOWEER EXTREMITIES OF SAID END PANELS, EACH CORE SUPPORT ELEMENT HAVING AN INWARDLY EXTENDING PORTION INCLUDING A CORE SUPPORT PORTION AT ITS INNER EXTREMITY AND AN ENLARGED SPACER PORTION INTERMEDIATE THE CORE SUPPORT PORTION AND THE END PANEL OF SAID FRAME, SAID CORE SUPPORT PORTION AND SAID ENLARGED SPACER PORTION OF BEING JOINED BY A PLANAR WALL FORMED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE END PANELS OF SAID FRAME BLANK, A SUPPLY ROLL OF CONTINUOUS SHEETING MATERIAL WOUND ON A CORE AND SUPPORTED FOR FREE ROTATION BY THE CORE SUPPORT PORTIONS OF SAID CORE SUPPORT ELEMENTS SUCH THAT ENDWISE MOVEMENT OF THE SUPPLY ROLL IS PREVENTED BY SAID PLANAR WALLS OF SAID CORE SUPPORT PORTIONS, THE SURFACE OF THE END PANELS AT A SPACED FROM THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE END PANELS AT A DISTANCE REPRESENTED BY DIMENSION B IN FIGURE 3 WHICH IS AT LEAST EQUAL TO THE DISTANCE FROM THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE END PANEL TO THE PEAK OF THE TUBULAR SUPPORT ELEMENTS AS REPRESENTED BY THE DIMENSION A IN FIGURE 3 TO PERMIT UNWINDING OF THE SHEETING MATERIAL FROM THE SUPPLY ROLL WITHOUT INTERFERENCE FROM THE TUBULAR SUPPORT ELEMENTS. 